Voices were raised as she made her way through. Shouts and cries of rage echoed over the soon to be rioters. As Martina reached the back of the group, a fireball struck the brick building.
A well-formed fireball with a good deal of power behind it, if Martina’s eye hadn’t dimmed over the years. She thought for a moment about which resident of the city might have casted such a spell.
More fire, lightning, and even chunks of earth followed. A white blue shield appeared over the half of the building closest to Martina. Each impact caused a brief flash, but not a single fracture formed.
Regular thaumaturgy held no chance against the shields of the Elysium Order.
Martina took the increasing number of attacks as the cue to leave before the sisters decided to react.
She found herself a secluded corner of the crisscrossing streets and channeled magic into her wand. Once full, she tapped it against her forehead.
The angry roar of the rioting crowd was replaced by the serene screams of her own mind.
Shutting her eyes, Martina tuned out everything. Every noise, every smell, and all the feelings creeping across her skin.
Martina found it to be an unpleasant sort of travel, but had long since gotten used to its illusory effects.
She appeared on top of a rug that hid a six pointed summoning circle within her office. Not that she needed the gate. It just lessened some of the more unpleasant side effects.
Flicking her eyes open, Martina walked to and sat at her desk. She kicked her feet up on the desktop before hitting a button on her phone. She waited.
And waited.
Happiness from her plans nearing their end kept her from feeling even the slightest tinge of anger at her insubordinate secretary. Nothing the woman could do would ruin this night for Martina.
Probably.
It wouldn’t do to underestimate the capacity for idiocy amongst her servants.
On the very last ring before the phone switched to voice mail, the line connected. There was no video this time around but Martina could hear the riot progressing in the background. Explosions and the faint crackle of thunder echoed over the speaker.
Yet Catherine did not speak.
Something to test another time.
Before Martina could speak, a small hissing noise came over the phone’s speaker. It ended abruptly with a loud snap.
“Did you just pop chewing gum in my ear?” Martina asked with a sigh.
“Not gum,” she said just before another pop sounded over the phone.
“Do I want to know?”
“That, Martina, is a question only you can answer.”
Martina grit her teeth together. Thinking about it carefully, Martina decided she did not want to know. Whatever her secretary said would only further grind on her nerves.
After another period of silence, Martina asked, “is Zagan with you?”
“Don’t know,” came the nonchalant reply.
Martina felt her lips form a thin line as they pursed together. “I swear, if either one of you fu–”
“There are a couple of teachers and a few of your students.”
Martina sat up, hoping she did not have to go back out there. There were things that needed doing before dawn. “In the riots? I was told th–”
“No. They’re standing on the roof of a building opposite mine. I watched the students arrive on the back of Arachne. The teachers teleported in.”
“Are the instructors going to interfere? Who are the students?”
Catherine made the popping noise before responding, “don’t know.”
Martina opened her mouth and just sat for a moment. She worried she might crack her own teeth if she kept up the pressure. After a calming sigh, Martina said, “describe them.”
“Well, one looks like a knight in shining armor. Not very well made armor, but it is somewhat shiny. She’s a bit shorter than the–”
“I meant describe their mannerisms. Do they look like they’re going to interfere?”
“One of the students has several large spheres orbiting her.”
Martina frowned at that. Eva mentioned that she might be there to ensure nothing goes wrong. That accounted for Arachne. Yet she dragged her roommate and instructors into it. That was conveniently left out of her plans.
“Arachne has a stupid grin on her face. I can tell it is a stupid grin and not a vicious or mirthful grin because it is the same expression you wear sometimes.”
“Stick to them, Catherine.”
“I’d love to. Sadly, I don’t want to have to go roof hopping. It is too much work.”
Martina cradled an oncoming headache with her hand.
“Not looking happy. Talking to the students.”
With a sigh, Martina said, “keep an eye on them. If they look like they’re going to interfere, intercept and keep them occupied. Switch to plan six if Zagan doesn’t show up in fifteen minutes.”
